Pneumatic piano-player.



@new Mmmm SEPT. 17, 1907;

JOSEPH consumir, F DETROIT, M'ICHIGA.

-- Prmrms'rrc PIANO-PLAYER,

Specification of Lettersrlntent. itpii'mim una Imi, 12, isos. semi No. 306,448.

' :Patented sept. 17, 1907.

Io all whom it may concern:

Be it knownl that l, Tosnrlr COURVILLE, a citizen -o the United States, 'residing at Detroit, county of Wayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Pneumatic Piano- Players; and declare the following to be a full, clear,

and exact description ofthe same, such as will enable others skilled in the art t0 which it pertains to make and use the same, reference boing had to the accom'- panying drawings, which form a part of this specification;

My invention relatcsto pneumatic piano players, and the objects of my improvements are to provide an improved pneumatic piano player in which apneumatic apparatus may remain in position upon the piano without impeding the manipulation of the keys oi the piano.

Referring to the accompanying drawingz-The figure is a cross section of a portion of a piano with an apparatus embodying my invention attached thereto.

A, is the key of the piano pivoted to a stationary support. ai: a. A1, is the end oi said key, which is pressed down by the finger. A2, is the inner end of said` key. which is raised when the keyis operated, and normally rests upon a stationary support A.

B, is the striking hammer, B1, a connecting rod, and B2 apush rod guided to reciprocate vertically,

and resting at its lower end upon the top of the stand ard a2 rising from the key A. v -v B3, is a lug secured to the side of the push rod B24 at the lower end of said rod.'

The connecting a hammer operating mechanism. :i D, is a lever pivoted at Dl to a standard Drising from the key A toward the end A2 thereof.

d, is an adjustable stop by which the oscillatory motion olihe lever D may be limited. Said stop is mounted upon one of the movable parts, D A, and adapted to strike against' the other of said parte. The lever D'extdnds in the same plane as the key A, and the inner end of the key I) comes beneath ythe lug B".

C, is a bellows, such as is usually used in pneumatic piano players. c, .is the hinged and movable side of said bellows. The, upward movement of the bellows c is limited by a stop C.

C2, is a guided rod c. tending vertically downward,

and provided with a presser-foot C4 at its lower end, which rests upon the front end of the lover D. The rld G is secured at its upper ond to the part c of the bellows, C by a convenient attachment C3, and is provided with means c" foivertical adjustment.

'ibe opcrntion of the above descril'lcd device is as iollowfuY Whoo the key A is manipulated in 1tlnwinml rod B1, and push rod B2 constitute way, the end A2 thereoirises causing the stroke of the hammer B in the usual way. AWhen the key A is 0scillated the lever.l D is simply carried with it without disturbing the mechanism of the pneumatic apparatus. The location of the point of contact o f the presser foot C* and lever D relative to the pivotal point a of the key A is such that the contacting surfacesl move longitudinal to each other. When the pneumatic apparatus is used, a vacuum is produced within the bellows C, l

which draws down the part c oscillatingl ther lever D and raising the push rod B2, so as to cause a stroke of the hammer B. Said push vrod rises away from the standardA a2, so that the key A4 is not disturbed.

1. In a device of the kind described, the combination ot the hammer operating mechanism, a key engaging said operating mechanism to actuate the same, a lever mounted on said key and having an engagement with said operating mechanism independent of thc key engagement, and a pneumatic apparatus adapted to actuate said lever to move said operating mechanism, substantially as and tor the purpose described. 2. In a device of the kind described, the combination ot a piano key having a pivot, n hammer operating mechanism resting on said key toward the inner end thereof, n lover ,pivoted upon saidkey engaging under a portion of said operating mechanism, and extending to av point located approximately vertical with reference to the pivot ot said key, and an actuating apparatus engaging said lever toward said point.

3. In a device of the kind described, the combination of:v

a piano key having a pivot, aphammer operating mechanism resting on said key toward the inner end thereof, a lever pivoted upon said keyvengaging under a portion ot said operating mechanism, extending to a point located `approximately vertical with reference to the pivot of said key, an actuating apparatus engaging said lever toward said point, and anl adjustable stopk upon. the outer end ot said lever. l

4. In a device of the kind described, the combination ot a hammer operating mechanism, s k'ey adapted to `actuate said operating mechanism, a lever mounted on said key and engaging said operating. mechanism, a pneumatic apparatus adapted to actuaternvid lever to mpve4 suld operating mechanism, and nn udjustble stop acting"` between said lever and key to limit the motion ot said lever, substantially al and for lthe purpose described.

5. linn device ofl the kind described, the combination ul -the :h'nlimer operating mechanism, a pivotcd key adapted to actuate sold operating mechanism, aiever lpivoted on said key having one ot its vends nearer the pivot of said key than its other end, the inner end of said lever engaging under a portion of' said operating mechanism, and u pneumatic apparntusfadapted to' act against the outer end of said' lever to 'actuate said lever to move said operating mechanism.

In testimony whereof, I sign this speciiication in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH COURVILLE. Witnesses 

